The Dionne quintuplets were born near Callander, Ontario, Canada to Elzire and Oliva Dionne. At birth, they weighed less than 14 pounds altogether. While they were objects of fascination, their combined story is tragic.

Émilie Dionne, who aspired to be a nun, suffered from epilepsy. She died as the result of a seizure at age 20. Marie died at age 35 due to a cerebral blood clot. She was married and had two daughters, but became estranged from her husband. Yvonne never married, and she became an artist and a librarian. She died at age 67 from cancer.

Cécile and Annette both married and had children, and each eventually divorced. They lived together in a Montreal suburb with Yvonne until her death. At one point, the three women wrote an impassioned letter to Kenny and Bobbi McCaughey, who were the parents of recently born septuplets. The letter warned them not to let their children be exploited.

In 1995, the three gave an interview to the New York Times claiming that their father had abused them sexually.